Tamra Davis met Jean-Michel Basquiat when he was only 21 years old, and she says he "definitely looked different." It was not far to long before the both started to bond over filmmaking, going out to movies and making there own reviews. Davis at that time was just a gallery assistant and was attending film school and pretty soon started filming him, and then Jean-Michel asked her if she could make a film about him.
Throughout the mid-80's Tamra filmed the artist in the studio painting, she recalls "Every time I was with him-and anybody will tell you this-he was always was working. He would be drawing at the restaurant; he would be painting."
Then in 1988 news broke out that Jean-Michel Basquiat passed away. And, Tamra Davis feeling bad and in mourning felt uncomfortable to do anything with the footage, and put it away and forgot about it. But in 2005, with the help of friends she returned to the 80's footage to make a 20 minute tribute. When the late artists friends and fans saw it they all flipped out! So Davis developed the short into a feature-length documentary with Arthouse Films, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child.
The film just had its New York premiere at Moma during the Tribeca Film Festival. Injecting passion for the late artists legendary charisma. Which was propelled into culture during the late 70's, making everyone wanting a piece of him.
To see a trailer of the documentary visit this link.
Jean-Michel Basquiat was a Cult-Figure, inspiring us then and now.
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